Glass vs Plastic: Which is Better?
If it takes 7 seconds to form a first impression of a stranger, it takes a fraction of that for a consumer to evaluate your product among others on the shelf. A customer might not try your product before making their decision and instead judge the book by its cover, or in this case the product by its container. Material plays a large role in this. Glass and plastic containers make up the vast majority of bottles, jars and jugs on the shelves and we’ve listed 7 key factors to consider to help you decide: Which is better, glass vs plastic?
1. Perceived Quality Between Glass vs Plastic
Consumers perceive a difference of quality in glass vs plastic. A 2015 study found that participants believed food products packaged in glass had a higher level of pleasantness than the same product stored in plastic. As it tends to be more expensive, glass offers a premium experience in look, feel and weight that can be essential for luxury fruit juices, craft cold brew or other products that want to promote a sophisticated image for marketing.
On the other hand, glass breaks. Plastic offers durability and ease of use. It could be dangerous if you gave a child or baby a glass bottle that he/she could easily drop. Plastic tends to be less slippery than glass, and it can be molded into a variety of shapes and sizes such as a neck with ergonomic finger molds for better grip and easy handling.
2. Difference in Characteristics & Chemical Compatibility
Glass offers inertness and impermeability ideal for sensitive products in the pharmaceutical or personal care industries as well as liquids that store for long periods of time such as spirits and other alcoholic beverages. It is less permeable to CO2 and O2 than plastic, keeping fizzy products bubbly longer. Able to handle a wide range of temperatures, glass will not warp under pasteurization.
Plastic is versatile. It comes in many varieties like polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP) and more. Each of these types of plastic has its own chemical compatibility properties, temperature rating, impact resistance, etc. With so many options, it’s likely you can find a plastic container suited for your product and use.
3. Shipping Glass vs Plastic in Bulk
Shipping glass can become expensive fast. This is because glass is typically more fragile and heavier than plastic, leading to higher freight costs. A plastic 2 fl. oz bottle may weigh only .023 lbs. while its glass counterpart weighs .177 lbs. This seems like a small difference when comparing a single bottle but when ordering pallets in bulk, it can add up to large figures that impact your profit margin. Additionally, even with extreme care in shipping, some glass bottles might break during handling.
Plastic, on the other hand, is lightweight and durable, making it much more suitable for transportation than glass. It requires less gas and oil than glass to transport, expending less energy and leaving a smaller carbon footprint. If you need to ship your container long distances, plastic stands as the economic and often eco-friendly option.
4. Which Costs More, Glass or Plastic?
Not only is glass more expensive to ship, it also costs more to produce primarily due to the amount of heat required during production. Glass manufacturing is energy-intensive accounting for 1% of total industrial energy use in an Energy Information Administration (EIA) survey of the manufacturing sector. Natural gas fuels most of this energy.
The melting point of plastic is much lower than glass, requiring less energy during production. With new technology developments in plastic molding, manufacturing plastic containers has become even more affordable. At one point, producing new plastic was even cheaper than recycling it. Economically, plastic exceeds glass in terms of both production and shipping.
5. Environmental Factors & Recycling
Although glass may take more energy to produce and ship, it is 100% recyclable meaning that each time glass is recycled, the resulting product has no loss of quality. Glass can also be reused as it can be washed and sterilized. Most plastic can be recycled, but it can degrade with each cycle. This means that when you recycle a plastic bottle, it typically is not used to make another bottle and instead is used for synthetic clothing or carpets. This process is often called “downcycling.”
The environmental effects of glass and plastic are not clear cut. Glass makes up 5% of the garbage in the U.S, meaning that even though it is recyclable it often finds its way to the landfill anyway. Producing a single-use glass vs plastic container has a larger environmental impact due to the energy required. However, even though glass is long-lasting it is made from natural material. While plastic is relatively new compared to glass, plastic makes up 20% of garbage in landfills.
6. Does Glass vs Plastic Impact my Health?
Glass is non-toxic, free from potentially harmful chemicals and generally not associated with a negative impact to your health. It is less porous than plastic. It also has a high resistance to leeching into your product even when contained for long periods of time. Organic or all-natural products may want to consider glass products as public knowledge increases of bisphenol A (BPA) and other potentially hazardous chemicals in plastics.
However, most plastics do not contain BPA. Plastic gets a bad reputation for its toxicity and tendency to leech into products. When used incorrectly, plastics can leech possibly harmful chemicals into your product. Improper or extreme storage conditions can accelerate this process. Taking precautions to ensure that your plastic container suits your product and its use can ensure that using plastic is a safe alternative to glass.
7. What’s Going Inside & How it will Be Used
A large determining factor between glass and plastic is what works best for your product. If it’s a spirited beverage or a liquid where keeping carbonation is essential, glass might work best for you. Thick substances such as shampoos and lotions often fit a plastic bottle you can squeeze to dispense. Glass vs plastic might help your all-natural beverage sell better, but a product that a child or baby handles might be ideal in plastic.
So what’s the bottom line? Which is better and is more beneficial, glass or plastic? Only you know will work for you! Find out more about packaging and containers, as well as lids, caps and closures to go along with them here at The Cary Company.
While it takes about 7 seconds to form a first impression of a stranger, a consumer needs even less time to assess your product among others on the shelf. Often, a customer may not sample your product before deciding, opting instead to judge based on appearance—essentially evaluating the product by its container and packaging. The majority of bottles, jars, and jugs are predominantly made from glass and plastic materials. With the rise of eco-friendly, organic marketing, it might seem like the pros of glass make it the superior choice. Here are 7 factors to help you in determining which is superior, glass or plastic?
- 1. Perceived Quality Between Glass vs Plastic
- 2. Is Glass Better Than Plastic for Your Health?
- 3. Characteristics & Chemical Compatibility
- 4. Shipping Glass vs Plastic in Bulk
- 5. Is Glass More Expensive Than Plastic?
- 6. Environmental Factors
- 7. Applications & How It Will Be Used
- Summary: Which Is Better, Glass or Plastic?
- Why Should You Buy from The Cary Company?
1. Perceived Quality Between Glass vs Plastic
Whether we are aware of it or not, we tend to associate packaging with various degrees of quality. A study conducted in 2015 revealed that participants perceived food items in glass packaging as more pleasant compared to identical products packaged in plastic containers.
The pros of glass include its pricier, premium look and feel that can be essential for luxury fruit juices, craft cold brew, or other products that want to promote a sophisticated image. On the other hand, plastic is better equipped for family and pet-friendly environments. It can offer ergonomic finger molds for easy gripping and handling, shatter-resistant durability, and flexibility for ease of dispensing.
2. Is Glass Better Than Plastic for Your Health?
A benefit of glass is its non-toxic, natural composition, which prevents harmful chemicals from seeping into your product, even when stored for extended periods of time. It is a popular choice for many organic, health-concerned applications since it does not face the risk of containing bisphenol A (BPA).
But is glass better than plastic for health? Consumers today prefer to buy BPA-free containers to limit the risk of exposure to BPA. Most new containers used by products intended for consumption or skin contact, such as food or cosmetics, do not contain BPA. Plastic containers are more prone to leaching possibly harmful chemicals into products when used incorrectly or stored in improper and extreme conditions. An example of incorrect usage might include putting unapproved containers in a microwave or dishwasher. However, plastic containers are not recognized as posing any health risks when used appropriately.
3. Characteristics & Chemical Compatibility
When deciding between glass vs plastic, it’s important to consider the application and whether or not it is compatible with one or both packaging options.
What Are the Properties of Glass Bottles?
Since they offer temperature resistance and impermeability, glass bottles are ideal for alcoholic beverages stored over time as well as sensitive products in the pharmaceutical or personal care industries. Another one of the pros of glass is its ability to not warp during the pasteurization process and be less permeable to CO2 and O2 than plastic, keeping carbonated products bubbly longer.
What Are the Properties of Plastic Bottles?
Plastic is adaptable and available in numerous forms such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and polypropylene (PP), among others. Each of these types has its own chemical compatibility properties, temperature rating, impact resistance, etc. Finding suitable plastic containers begins with understanding your product’s compatibility needs, from hot-fill packaging to fluorination barrier treatment and beyond!
4. Shipping Glass vs Plastic in Bulk
Shipping can become expensive quickly. Glass is typically more fragile and heavy than plastic, leading to higher freight costs and potential costly breaking during handling. A 2 fl. oz plastic bottle may only weigh .023 lbs. while a 2 fl. oz. glass bottle weighs .177 lbs. While the difference may appear minor when looking at individual bottles, bulk orders can lead to significant amounts that affect your profit margin. A case of 500 plastic vs glass bottles would amount to 11.5 lbs and 88.5 lbs, respectively.
Plastic, on the other hand, is lightweight, making it much more suitable for transportation. Transporting it requires less fuel and oil, consuming less energy and resulting in a reduced carbon footprint. For long-distance container shipping, plastic emerges as the cost-effective and frequently environmentally friendly choice.
5. Is Glass More Expensive Than Plastic?
When comparing glass to plastic, glass tends to be more expensive in both production and shipping. The production of glass requires significant energy, representing 1% of the total industrial energy consumption according to an Energy Information Administration (EIA) survey, with natural gas being the primary energy source. The manufacturing of glass requires more energy due to the high temperatures needed for melting and forming the material.
The weight and fragility of glass contribute to higher shipping expenses. Glass is heavier than plastic, making transportation more costly, while plastic's lightweight nature allows for easier and cheaper shipping.
Plastic's melting point is significantly lower, requiring less energy for production. Recent advancements in plastic molding technology have made the manufacturing of plastic containers even more cost-effective.
6. Environmental Factors
The environmental impacts of plastic compared to glass are ambiguous. Even though it is recyclable, glass often finds its way to landfills, making up 5% of the garbage in the U.S. Although it is made from natural materials, it takes a long time to biodegrade and decompose. Likewise, producing a single-use glass bottle as opposed to a plastic bottle has a larger environmental impact due to the energy required.
Historically, plastic came into use much more recently compared to glass, but in 2018 it already made up 18.5% of garbage in landfills. Additionally, around 0.5% of plastic garbage ends up in oceans, affecting aquatic life and polluting our planet. Worsening conditions call for proper recycling initiatives from consumers.
Recycling: Is Glass Better Than Plastic?
When it comes to recycling, which is better: glass or plastic? We often associate plastic with pollution and poor waste management, but are glass bottles better than plastic when it comes to recycling? Some pros of glass are that it is 100% recyclable, meaning there is no loss of quality or material during the recycling process. It can also be washed, sterilized, and reused for a variety of purposes, from food storage to crafts. Yet, glass takes more energy to produce and ship, contributing to more carbon emissions.
Most types of plastic can be recycled but can degrade with each cycle. This means that a certain percentage of your recycled plastic bottle is not used to make another bottle. Instead, it can be used for synthetic clothing or carpets. This process is often called “downcycling” since the recycled product is of lower quality than the original material.
7. Applications & How It Will Be Used
When wondering if glass is better than plastic, consider the properties of both in relation to your product. If it’s a spirited beverage or a liquid where keeping carbonation is essential, glass bottles are more likely to be your best choice. Thick substances such as shampoos and lotions often fit a plastic bottle you can squeeze to dispense. Consider what environments your product will be found in, who the audience is, what style of dispensing it requires, and whether it needs to be able to withstand any conditions: heat, freezing temperatures, chemicals, etc.
Summary: Which Is Better, Glass or Plastic?
The choice between glass and plastic isn’t based on which one is better overall, but which one is better for your product. Beer, wine, high-end skincare products, and more are typically more suited for glass. You may want to choose plastic for shampoo, conditioner, and other thick liquids so that users can easily squeeze and dispense the product. The choice is up to you!
Why Should You Buy from The Cary Company?
So when it comes to glass vs plastic packaging, what's the bottom line? Are glass bottles better than plastic? Only you know what will work best for your product! Collaborate with our logistics team to find a delivery method that remedies any pricey transport and more!
Have any further questions? Our container experts are here to assist you during every step of the way. Contact our sales team at 630.629.6600 or email sales@thecarycompany.com! Find out more about packaging and containers, as well as lids, caps and closures to go along with them here at The Cary Company!